Will Ferrell says Mort Crim inspired 'Anchorman'

DETROIT – In case you haven't noticed, "Anchorman 2" is coming out very soon.

Will Ferrell, who stars in the movie as anchorman Ron Burgundy, told the New York Times in an interview that former WDIV anchor Mort Crim was his biggest inspiration for the character.

"The inspiration for the original 'Anchorman' came one evening more than a decade ago when Mr. Ferrell was watching a television documentary about Jessica Savitch, one of the first women to anchor news telecasts. He was struck by a former co-anchor of hers in Philadelphia, who delivered his reminiscences in a silky baritone. He literally said the line: 'You have to remember, back then I was a real male chauvinist pig. I was not nice to her.'"

Mort Crim was a WDIV anchor from 1978-1996.

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